Joshua 12:19 — Word Study
WLCמֶ֤לֶךְ מָדוֹן֙ אֶחָ֔ד מֶ֥לֶךְ חָצ֖וֹר אֶחָֽד׃
BSAthe kingmelek [ruler, monarch] of MadonMâdôwn [a city in ancient Palestine] oneʼechâd [a single, unique] the kingmelek [sovereign, royal person] of HazorChâtsôwr [a major Canaanite stronghold] oneʼechâd [united, single entity]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| מֶ֤לֶךְ | [the] king of | Noun common, masculine singular construct |
| מָדוֹן֙ | Madon | Noun proper |
| אֶחָ֔ד | one | Adj |
| מֶ֥לֶךְ | [the] king of | Noun common, masculine singular construct |
| חָצ֖וֹר | Hazor | Noun proper |
| אֶחָֽד׃ | one | Adj |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | the king of Madon, one; the king of Hazor, one; |
| KJV | The king of Madon, one; the king of Hazor, one; |
| ASV | the king of Madon, one; the king of Hazor, one; |
| YLT | The king of Madon, one; The king of Hazor, one; |
| WEB | the king of Madon, one; the king of Hazor, one; |
| BBE | The king of Madon, one; the king of Hazor, one; |
There are no significant differences among the translations regarding the wording of this verse.
The verse consists of two main clauses, each detailing a king and their singularity.
3 commentators on this verse
Gill, Cambridge, Whedon & more — read them ›
clause
subjectאֶחָד
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Joshua 12:19
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Defeated Kings of Canaangenerated
Joshua 12:19 lists the kings defeated by Joshua during the conquest of Canaan. This verse specifically mentions the king of Madon and the king of Hazor, both of whom played roles in opposing Israelite forces. The context illustrates the military successes of Israel as they entered the Promised Land, highlighting the various rulers they encountered and overcame.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joshua 11:1 | Now when Jabin king of Hazor heard about these things, he sent word to Jobab king of Madon; to the kings of Shimron and Achshaph; |
| 2 | Joshua 11:1–10 | Now when Jabin king of Hazor heard about these things, he sent word to Jobab king of Madon; to the kings of Shimron and Achshaph; |
| 3 | Judges 4:2 | So the LORD sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor. The commander of his forces was Sisera, who lived in Harosheth-hagoyim. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 3 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — מֶלֶךְ, Me.lekhgenerated
The Hebrew word מֶ֫לֶךְ (*melek*) means 'king.' It is derived from a root that indicates royalty. This term is used to describe a sovereign or royal person, such as King David or King Saul. It also appears in various contexts, including references to specific kings and locations, like the 'King's Highway' in Numbers 20:17.
In this verse, it emphasizes the authority of the rulers mentioned. The parsing indicates that it is a masculine singular noun in the construct state, showing that it is directly linked to the cities of Madon and Hazor.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses the term the king for both instances of מֶלֶךְ.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The structure of the verse consists of two main clauses, each beginning with the noun phrase מֶ֫לֶךְ, followed by the names of the cities and the adjective אֶחָד. This parallel structure emphasizes the repetition of the kings' titles and their singularity.
The finite verb is implicit, as the sentence lists the kings without an overt action, which is typical in Hebrew prose for cataloging or enumerating items.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates מֶ֫לֶךְ as βασιλέα (basileā), which also means 'king.' This choice reflects the same royal connotation found in the Hebrew, maintaining the focus on authority.
However, the Septuagint does not fully preserve the structure of the Hebrew text, as it does not match the exact word order or all terms used.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Joshua 12:19 identifies the king of Madon and the king of Hazor as two of the rulers defeated during the conquest of Canaan. This verse emphasizes their individual status as kings, highlighting their roles in the conflict against Israel.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
The term 'king' refers to a ruler with authority over a city or region, indicating their role in the conflicts during the Israelite conquest.
These kings are significant as they represent the opposition faced by the Israelites and their eventual defeat, marking a key moment in the conquest of Canaan.
The mention of these kings illustrates the challenges the Israelites encountered and the victories achieved under Joshua's leadership.
This verse fits into the larger narrative by cataloging the defeated kings, showcasing God's faithfulness in delivering the land to Israel.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What do the kings of Madon and Hazor represent in the broader context of Israel's conquest?
- How can understanding the significance of these kings help us appreciate the narrative of Joshua?
- In what ways can we see parallels between these ancient conflicts and challenges we face today?
- What does the concept of kingship mean in our own lives, and how can we apply it?
Commentators on this verse — 3 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Joshua 12:19 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleThe king of Madon, one,.... Whose name was Jobab, Joshua 11:1; the king of Hazor, one; whose name was Jabin, and of him and his city, [See comments on Joshua 11:1].
Read John Gill on Joshua 12 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges19. Madon] See ch. Joshua 11:1. Hazor] Ch. Joshua 11:1; Joshua 11:10.
Read Cambridge on Joshua 12 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible19, 20. On the cities mentioned in these verses see Joshua 11:1.[21. Taanach — In the Scripture Taanach and Megiddo are generally mentioned together.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Joshua 12 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
the king of Madon, one; the king of Hazor, one;
the king of Madon, one; the king of Hazor, one;
the king of Madon, one; the king of Hazor, one;
the king of Madon (one), the king of Hazor (one),
Tyndale line
The king of Madon, one; the king of Hazor, one;
the king of Madon, one; the king of Hazor, one;
the king of Madon, one; the king of Hazor, one;
The king of Madon, one; the king of Hazor, one;
The King of Madon, one: the King of Hazor, one:
Strictly literal
the king of Madon, one; the king of Hazor, one;
The king of Madon, one; The king of Hazor, one;
the king of Madon, one; the king of Hazor, one;
The king of Madon, one; the king of Chazor, one;
the king of Madon, the king of Hazor,
From the Latin
The king of Madon one, the king of Asor one,
Simplified
The king of Madon. The king of Hazor.
The king of Madon, one; the king of Hazor, one;
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text reads מֶ֤לֶךְ מָדוֹן֙ אֶחָ֔ד מֶ֥לֶךְ חָצ֖וֹר אֶחָֽד׃, and the Septuagint has only partial correspondence in its translation. The two texts agree on the mention of Madon and Hazor as kings, but the Septuagint's wording differs significantly.
מֶ֤לֶךְ מָדוֹן֙ אֶחָ֔ד מֶ֥לֶךְ חָצ֖וֹר אֶחָֽד׃
2 of the 6 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Joshua 12:19
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
The Hebrew word מֶ֫לֶךְ (*melek*) means 'king.' It is derived from a root that suggests royalty. The term appears in various contexts, including references to specific kings and locations, such as the 'King's Highway' in Numbers 20:17 and the 'King's Valley' in Genesis 14:17. The lexicons note its Aramaic equivalent and mention its use in the context of individuals like Hammelech in Jeremiah.
מֶ֫לֶךְ 2513 n.m. king
base
H4428 מֶ֫לֶךְ king
4428 melek meh'-lek
from 4427; a king:--king, royal.
see HEBREW for 04427
מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — king.
1) king
Aramaic equivalent: me.lekh (מֶ֫לֶךְ "king" H4430)
הַמֶּלֶךְ (me.lekh) — `the king`.
'the king' or a name, Hammelech in KJV of Jer.36.26; 38.6- a man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at Jer.36.26;
father of: Jerahmeel (H3396I) and Malchijah (H4441H); also translated "the king";
§ A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at Jer.36.26;
father of: Jerahmeel (H3396I) and Malchijah (H4441H); also translated "the king";
מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — King's.
King's (Highway) (Num.20.17)
מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — King's.
Another name of she.lach (שֶׁ֫לַח "Shelah" H7975A)
מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — Milcom.
Another name of mo.lekh (מֹ֫לֶךְ "Molech" H4432)
מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — King's.
King's (Valley) (Gen.14.17)
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular constructHNcmsc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
מָדוֹן (Madon) refers to a royal city of the Canaanites, associated with strife. It is mentioned in the context of a location in Palestine that joined Jabin's confederates against Joshua at the waters of Merom. The word is closely linked to another term, מָדוֹן (madon), which means 'strife'.
מָדוֹן n.pr.loc. a royal city of the Canaanites
base
H4068 מָדוֹן
4068 Madown maw-dohn'
the same as 4067; Madon, a place in Palestine:--Madon.
see HEBREW for 04067
מָדוֹן (ma.don) — Madon.
§ Madon = "strife"
one of the principal cities of Canaan who joined Jabin and his confederates in their battle against Joshua at the waters of Merom and were defeated
N-proper — Noun properHNpl
ma'-don (madhon; Septuagint: Codex Vaticanus Marrhon; Codex Alexandrinus Madon (Jos 11:1); Codex Vaticanus Marmoth; Codex Alexandrinus Maron (Jos 12:19)): A royal city of the Canaanites named along with Hazor of Galilee. El-Medineh, "the city," on the heights West of the Sea of Galilee, with which it might possibly be identified, probably dates only from Moslem times. It seems likely that the common confusion of the Hebrew letter daleth ("d") for the Hebrew letter resh ("r") has occurred, and that we should read "Maron." The place may be then identified with Meiron, a village with ancient ruins and rock tombs at the foot of Jebel Jermuk, a little to the Northwest of Safed.
W. Ewing
Madon
Strife, a Canaanitish city in the north of Palestine (Josh. 11:1; 12:19), whose king was slain by Joshua; perhaps the ruin Madin, near Hattin, some 5 miles west of Tiberias.
(strife) one of the principal cities of Canaan before the conquest, probably in the north. Its king joined Jabin and his confederates in their attempt against Joshua at the waters of Xierom, and like the rest was killed. (Joshua 11:1; 12:19)
a chiding; a garment; his measure
אֶחָד (echad) means 'one' and is derived from a numeral. It encompasses meanings such as each, every, a certain, and can serve as an indefinite article. It is also used as an ordinal to denote 'first' and appears in various combinations, including eleven. The entries consistently emphasize its numerical and qualitative aspects.
אֶחָד 972 adj.num. one
one
= each, every
= a certain
= indef. art.
only, & (fem.) once
one … another, one … the other
as ordinal first
in combin.
base
H259 אֶחָד one . one
. = each, every
. = a certain
. = indef. art.
. only, & (fem.) once
. one … another, one … the other
. as ordinal first
. in combin.
259 'echad ekh-awd'
a numeral from 258; properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an
ordinal) first:--a, alike, alone, altogether, and,
any(-thing), apiece, a certain, (dai-)ly, each (one), +
eleven, every, few, first, + highway, a man, once, one, only,
other, some, together,
see HEBREW for 0258
אֶחָד (e.chad) — one.
1) one (number)
1a) one (number)
1b) each, every
1c) a certain
1d) an (indefinite article)
1e) only, once, once for all
1f) one...another, the one...the other, one after another, one by one
1g) first
1h) eleven (in combination), eleventh (ordinal)
Adj — AdjHAcfsa
wun.
See NUMBER.
The Hebrew word מֶ֫לֶךְ (*melek*) means 'king.' It is derived from a root that suggests royalty. The term appears in various contexts, including references to specific kings and locations, such as the 'King's Highway' in Numbers 20:17 and the 'King's Valley' in Genesis 14:17. The lexicons note its Aramaic equivalent and mention its use in the context of individuals like Hammelech in Jeremiah.
מֶ֫לֶךְ 2513 n.m. king
base
H4428 מֶ֫לֶךְ king
4428 melek meh'-lek
from 4427; a king:--king, royal.
see HEBREW for 04427
מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — king.
1) king
Aramaic equivalent: me.lekh (מֶ֫לֶךְ "king" H4430)
הַמֶּלֶךְ (me.lekh) — `the king`.
'the king' or a name, Hammelech in KJV of Jer.36.26; 38.6- a man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at Jer.36.26;
father of: Jerahmeel (H3396I) and Malchijah (H4441H); also translated "the king";
§ A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at Jer.36.26;
father of: Jerahmeel (H3396I) and Malchijah (H4441H); also translated "the king";
מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — King's.
King's (Highway) (Num.20.17)
מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — King's.
Another name of she.lach (שֶׁ֫לַח "Shelah" H7975A)
מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — Milcom.
Another name of mo.lekh (מֹ֫לֶךְ "Molech" H4432)
מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — King's.
King's (Valley) (Gen.14.17)
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular constructHNcmsc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
חָצוֹר (Chatsowr) refers to a collective term for several locations, primarily a royal city in northern Canaan, known as Hazor, meaning "castle." It also denotes towns in the Negev and among the Benjamites, as well as a site in Arabia. The entries highlight its geographical significance in both Palestine and Arabia.
חָצוֹר, חָצֹר n.pr.loc.
a royal city of northern Canaan
places in the Negeb
a Benjamite town
an Arabian locality
base
H2674 חָצוֹר, חָצֹר
2674 Chatsowr khaw-tsore'
a collective form of 2691; village; Chatsor, the name (thus
simply) of two places in Palestine and of one in Arabia:--
Hazor.
see HEBREW for 02691
חָצוֹר (cha.tsor) — Hazor.
Hazor = "castle"
a royal city of northern Palestine allotted to Naphtali
Also named: chets.ron (חֶצְרוֹן "Hezron" H2696J)
חָצוֹר (cha.tsor) — Hazor.
§ Hazor = "castle"
one of the cities of Judah in the extreme south
חָצוֹר (cha.tsor) — Hazor.
§ Hazor = "castle"
one of the cities of Judah in the extreme south
חָצוֹר (cha.tsor) — Hazor.
§ Hazor = "castle"
a town north of Jerusalem in which the Benjamites resided after the return from exile
חָצוֹר (cha.tsor) — Hazor.
§ Hazor = "castle"
a site in Arabia
N-proper — Noun properHNpl
ha'-zor (chatsor; Nasor; Codex Sinaiticus, Asor, 1 Macc 11:67):
(1) The royal city of Jabin (Jos 11:1), which, before the Israelite conquest, seems to have been the seat of a wide authority (Jos 11:11). It was taken by Joshua, who exterminated the inhabitants, and it was the only city in that region which he destroyed by fire (11:11-13). At a later time the Jabin Dynasty appears to have recovered power and restored the city (Jud 4:2). The heavy defeat of their army at the hands of Deborah and Barak led to their final downfall (Jud 4:23). It was in the territory allotted to Naphtali (Jos 19:36). Hazor was one of the cities…
Hazor
Enclosed; fortified. (1.) A stronghold of the Canaanites in the mountains north of Lake Merom (Josh. 11:1-5). Jabin the king with his allied tribes here encountered Joshua in a great battle. Joshua gained a signal victory, which virtually completed his conquest of Canaan (11:10-13). This city was, however, afterwards rebuilt by the Canaanites, and was ruled by a king with the same hereditary name of Jabin. His army, under a noted leader of the name of Sisera, swept down upon the south, aiming at the complete subjugation of the country. This powerful army was met by the Israelites under Barak, who went forth by the advice of the prophetess Deborah. The result was one of the most remarkable victories for Israel recorded in the Old Testament (Josh. 19:36;
(castle). A fortified city, which on the occupation of the country was allotted to Naphtali. (Joshua 19:36) Its position was apparently between Ramah and Kedesh, ibid. (Joshua 12:19) on the high ground overlooking the Lake of Merom. There is no reason for supposing it a different place from that of which Jabin was king. (Joshua 11:1; Judges 4:2,17; 1 Samuel 12:9) It was the principal city of the whole of north Palestine. (Joshua 11:10) It was fortified by Solomon, (1 Kings 9:15) and its inhabitants were carried…
1. A chief city of northern Canaan, whose king Jabin, at the head of an allied host, was defeated by Joshua, Jos 11:1-13. Hazor revived, however, and for a time oppressed the Israelites; but was subdued by Barak, fortified by Solomon, and remained in the possession of Israel until the invasion of Tiglathpileser, Jos 19:36; Jud 4:2; 1Ki 9:15; 2Ki 15:29. It lay not far from Lake Merom.
2. A region in Arabia, laid waste by Nebuchadnezzar, Jer 49:28- 33. Its location is unknown.
אֶחָד (echad) means 'one' and is derived from a numeral. It encompasses meanings such as each, every, a certain, and can serve as an indefinite article. It is also used as an ordinal to denote 'first' and appears in various combinations, including eleven. The entries consistently emphasize its numerical and qualitative aspects.
אֶחָד 972 adj.num. one
one
= each, every
= a certain
= indef. art.
only, & (fem.) once
one … another, one … the other
as ordinal first
in combin.
base
H259 אֶחָד one . one
. = each, every
. = a certain
. = indef. art.
. only, & (fem.) once
. one … another, one … the other
. as ordinal first
. in combin.
259 'echad ekh-awd'
a numeral from 258; properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an
ordinal) first:--a, alike, alone, altogether, and,
any(-thing), apiece, a certain, (dai-)ly, each (one), +
eleven, every, few, first, + highway, a man, once, one, only,
other, some, together,
see HEBREW for 0258
אֶחָד (e.chad) — one.
1) one (number)
1a) one (number)
1b) each, every
1c) a certain
1d) an (indefinite article)
1e) only, once, once for all
1f) one...another, the one...the other, one after another, one by one
1g) first
1h) eleven (in combination), eleventh (ordinal)
Adj — AdjHAcfsa
wun.
See NUMBER.